Pallet



y 5, 1964 R. c. HOULE 3,131,656

PALLET Filed Dec. 20, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 \i 22.; TN

INVENTOR RENE G. HOULE BY V ATTORNEY y 5, 1964 R. c. HOULE 3,131,656

, PALLET Filed Dec. 20, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

' 9x .RENE o. HOULE BY ammmfiw ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,131,656 PALLET Rene C. Houle, 11 Salem Drive, North Providence, RI. Filed Dec. 20, 1963, Ser. No. 332,043 14 Qlairns. (Cl. 10856) This invention relates to portable material support plat forms commonly called pallets or skids and often used in conjunction with fork life trucks.

Pallets have found considerable use in the transportation and storage of goods. Where goods can be packed on a pallet and shipped as an integral package therewith considerable savings can be achieved because of simplified handling practices. When the pallets are constructed of wood or metal the advantages of their use are limited because of their considerable weight and the complications which arise as a results of the necessity of storing them prior to use and of returning the pallets for reuse.

An object of this invention is to provide a load supporting pallet which can be formed of inexpensive and light materials such as fiberboard.

Another object is to provide a pallet which is formed from sheets of fiberboard folded in a novel manner to give strength and rigidity in use and which may be unfolded after use and returned to its point of origin as flat sheets of fiberboard.

A further object is to provide fiberboard cooperating blanks scored for folding which may be shipped to their place of initial use as flat sheets and then assembled to produce an interlocked pallet construction.

Another object is to provide a pallet whose components are easily replaceable thus simplifying the repair of damaged pallets and increasing their utility.

Other objects will become apparent from the following description of the invention which is associated with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of pallet construction in accordance with my invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of one component of the pallet shown in FIG. 1, in partially folded position;

, FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view partially broken away, of a second component of the pallet shown in FIG.

1, in partially folded position;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective View of a third component of the pallet shown in FIG. 1, in partially folded position;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of pallet construction in accordance with my invention;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of two cooperating components of the platform shown in FIG. 1, the

an upper support layer 14.

The bottom support layer contains a plurality of elongate support members 29 in parallel relation. A typical member is shown in partially folded position in FIG. 2. Each member 20 has two vertical walls 22 and 24- and a horizontal bottom support wall or web 26. Each vertical wall has slots therein respectively shown at 22a through k inclusive and 24a through k inclusive. The

v spacing and dimensions of these slots will be set forth 3,131,656 Patented May 5, 1964 FIG. 3 shows a typical member 30 in partially folded position while FIG. 4 shows a typical member 4t) in partially folded position.

Member 39 is composed of a top horizontal wall or web section 32, two depending outer vertical wall sections 33 and 34, two horizontal wall sections 35 and 36 and two inner vertical wall sections 37 and 38 joined in the recited sequence 32, 33, 35 and 47 and 32, 34, 36 and 38. Depending from the outer vertical sections 33 and 34 are rectangularly shaped tongues 39.

It will be seen that in each vertical section 33 and 34 adjacent the tongues 39 short slots are formed. For convenience these are referred to as slots 33a through f and 34a through 1, respectively in the vertical wall sections 33 and 34.

The member 40, shown in FIG. 4 in partially folded position is composed of a horizontal wall or web section 42 and two vertical wall sections 44 and 46 depending one from each side of section 42. In each side wall section short slots 44a through f and 46a through f are respectively formed.

All of the slots in all of the members are made wide enough to comply with the material which is inserted in the slots. The slots 22ak and 24a-k are preferably made approximately slightly less in length than three quarters of the total height of the members 36 and 40. The length of the slots 33af, 34414, 44a-f and 46a-f are then made sufficiently long to permit the upper edges of sections 22 and 24 to abut the interior surfaces of sections 32 and 42. In addition this permits the ends of tongues 39 to abut the interior surfaces of sections 26 if the interior height from the lower end of tongue 39 to the interior surface of section 32 is the same as the interior height of member 2th from the interior surface of section 26 to the upper edges of sections 22 and 24. This is a desirable dimensional control since it results in greater strength and rigidity. Accordingly, it is shown in this embodiment.

The spacing of the slots in the members 20, 3t) and 40 is determined by the spacing of the members with which the slots are interlocked. The spacing of the members is determined by the load to be supported by the pallet 10 and the size and spacing of the forks which are to lift the pallet.

In constructing the pallet 10 the members 2%, 36 and 40 are first formed from blanks. The blank for member 20 is slotted at 22ak and 24ak and folded on scored lines at 128 and 129.

The blank for member 4% is slotted at 44af and 46a and folded on scored lines at 148 and 149.

The blank for member 30 is slotted at 3351- and 34 a-f and folded on scored lines at 131, 132, 333, 134, and 136. It is desirable that tongues 39 be in the same planes as sections 33 and 34. Preferably all of the lanks are made of corrugated fiberboard. The corrugations, though not shown in the drawings are preferably oriented in all of the members at right angles to the longitudinal axis of each member.

All of the folds on all of the members 20, 3t) and 40 are right angle folds which when the members are interlocked contribute toward the load retaining strength of the pallet.

The pallet Ill is then formed by placing members 2% on the floor or a support base with the slots ZZa-f and 24a-f extending upwardly. The members 3% are then engaged with the members 26 by interengaging the slots 3211- and 3451- with the slots 22a and b and 24a and 1), slots 22c and f and 24a and f; and slots 22 and k and 24 and k. These are not interengaged in the order recited but rather in the order partially recited as follows: 34a with 22a; 34b with 2411; 34c and d with 22:: and 24a of another member 20, etc. In placing the members 20 and 30 together care should be taken that tongues 39 extend properly into abutting relation with the interior surface of section 26. The members 40 are then placed on members 2% with the slots 44af and 46a-f interengaging the proper slots of the members 20.

Referring now to FIG. 5, another embodiment which incorporates the principles of this invention is indicated by the numeral 50. This embodiment like 16, is also made up of two layers, a bottom support layer 52 and an upper support layer 54.

The bottom support layer 52 contains a plurality of members 60 in parallel relation. A typical member 60 is shown in partially folded position in FIG. 6. Each member has a horizontal bottom support wall or web 66 and two upstanding vertical walls 62 and 64. Each vertical wall 62 and 64 has slots 62a-f and 64a-f formed respectively therein.

Within each member 60 is a removable upstanding vertical web member 65 which has slots 6511- corre sponding to the slots 62a-f and 64a The upper support layer 54 contains a plurality of members 70. FIG. 7 depicts a typical member '70 in partially folded position. Each member 70 has a horizontal top wall or web section 72, two outer vertical wall sections 73 and 74, two horizontal wall sections 75 and 76 and two inner vertical wall sections 77 and 78 joined in the recited sequence 72, 73, 75 and 77 and 72, 74, 76 and 78.

Depending vertically from the outer vertical wall sections are rectangular tongues 79a and 79b. Between the tongues 79a and b is a slot 79x which is interengaged with the slots 65a-f in the completely assembled pallet.

It will be seen that in each outer vertical section 73 and 74, adjacent the outside of the tongues 79a and b are short slots, referred to here as 73a through d and 7411 through d, respectively in the wall sections 73 and 74.

As with the pallet 10, all of the slots in members 60 and 70 are made wide enough to comply with the material which is inserted in the slots. The slots 62a-f, 64a-f, and 6511- are preferably made approximately slightly less in length than three quarters of the total height of the members 70. The lengths of the slots 73a-d, 74a-d and 79x are then made sufficiently long to permit the upper edges of sections 62 and 64 and of member 65. In addition this permits the ends of tongues 79a and b to abut the interior surfaces of sections 66 if the interior height from the lower ends of tongues 79a and b is the same as the interior height from the interior surface of section 66 to the upper edges of sections 62 and 64 and member 65. As with pallet this is a desirable dimensional control since it results in greater strength and rigidity. Accordingly it is also shown in FIG. 5.

The spacing of the slots in this embodiment, pallet 50, is determined by the spacing of the members with which the slots are interlocked. The spacing of the members is determined by the load to be supported by the pallet and the size and spacing of the forks which are to lift the pallet.

The members 60 and 70 which with member 65 comprise the pallet 50, are preferably made from corrugated fiberboard blanks which are scored to permit folding. Member 60 has scored lines at 168 and 169 and is slotted at 62a-f and 64a-f. Member 70 has scored lines at 171, 172, 173, 174, 175 and 176 and is slotted at 73a-d and 74a-d. When folded, the folds are right angle folds. In interlocked relation the members are strengthened by the particular folding arrangements. Additional strength and rigidity are obtained from corrugated fiberboard when the corrugations are oriented in all of the members at right angles to the longitudinal axis of each member.

The pallet 50 is formed by placing the member 60 with the section 66 downwardly and the sections 62 and 64 extending upwardly. Member 65 is then placed between sections 62 and 64 with the slotted edge extending upwardly. The members 70 are then engaged with the members 66, the slots 79x interengaging the slots of member 65. The slots in member 70 engage the slots in member 60 in the order partially recited below: 7411 and b with 64] and 62 73a and b with 642 and 62e. As with the FIG. 1 embodiment care should be taken that tongues 79a and b extend properly into abutting relation with the interior surface of section 66. With the proper dimensional control previously referred to, the outer edges of the members 60 and 65 between the slots 62a and b, 65a and b, 64a and b; 62c and d, 65c and d, 640 and d; and 62e and 1, 65c and f, 64c and j abut the interior surfaces of sections 72, while the ends of tongues 79a and b abut the interior surfaces of sections 66.

It will be understood that changes to items such as parts may be made without departing from the principles of this invention. Further, terms used in the description and the appended claims which may imply and upper and lower relation or a vertical or horizontal relation are intended to be limiting only to the extent that they define the relationship of the parts, irrespective of the position of the pallet as a whole. While reference has been made to portions of the components as sections these may be also referred to as panels.

I claim:

1. A portable materials handling pallet adapted for use with a fork lift truck comprising:

(A) a bottom support layer containing a plurality of spaced parallel elongate support members, each of said support members including:

(1) two vertical walls with a plurality of slots contained therein,

(a) the slots in one wall being oriented in coincident relation to the slots in the other wall (2) a horizontal bottom support wall joining the two vertical walls (B) an upper support layer containing a plurality of spaced parallel support members in interengaging relation with the members of the lower support layer, and being at right angles therewith, at least some of the upper support members comprising,

(1) an elongate hollow trussed rectangular unit presenting two inner and two outer upright vertical sections and one upper and two lower horizontal sections,

(2) a plurality of vertically depending rectangular tongues extending downwardly from the outer vertical sections of said trussed unit,

(3) a slot adjacent each side of each tongue extending into each outer vertical section,

(C) said tongues being contained within the vertical walls of said bottom support layer members and (D) the slots of said bottom support layer members and said upper support layer members being in interengagement.

2. A pallet according to claim 1 wherein each of the elongate members is constructed of corrugated fiberboard with the corrugations extending at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said member.

3. A pallet according to claim 1 wherein the interior height of the members of said bottom support layer is substantially equal to the interior height of said rectangular tongues whereby said tongues extend into abutting relation with the interior surface of said bottom support wall and portions of the upper edges of said vertical walls engage the interior surface of said upper horizontal section.

4. A portable materials handling pallet adapted for use with a fork lift truck comprising:

(A) a bottom support layer containing a plurality of spaced parallel elongate support members including:

(1) two vertical walls with a plurality of slots contained therein (a) the slots in one wall being oriented in coincident relation to the slots in the other wall (2) a horizontal bottom support wall joining the two vertical walls (3) a vertical web intermediate said two vertical Walls and parallel thereto (B) an upper support layer containing a plurality of spaced parallel support members in interlocking relation with the members of the lower support layer and being at right angles therewith, said upper supports members comprising,

(1) an elongate hollow trussed rectangular unit presenting two inner and two outer upright vertical sections and one upper and two lower horizontal sections,

(2) a plurality of vertically depending rectangular tongues extending downwardly from the outer vertical sections of said trussed unit,

(a) said tongues depending from said sections in spaced pairs,

(3) a slot adjacent each side of each tongue extending into each outer vertical section,

(C) said tongues being contained within the vertical walls of said bottom support layer members with the tongues of each pair straddling said vertical webs (D) the slots of said bottom support layer members and said upper support layer members being in interengagement.

5. A pallet according to claim 4 wherein each of the elongate members is constructed of corrugated fiberboard with the corrugations extending at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said member.

6. A pallet according to claim 4 wherein the interior height of the member of said bottom support layer is substantially equal to the interior height of said rectangular tongues whereby said tongues extend into abutting relation with the interior surface of said bottom support wall and portions of the upper edges of said vertical walls engage the interior surface of said upper horizontal section.

7. A portable materials handling pallet adapted for use with a fork lift truck comprising:

(A) a bottom support layer containing a plurality of spaced parallel elongate support members, each of said support members including:

(1) two vertical walls with a plurality of slots contained therein,

(a) the slots in one wall being oriented in coincident relation to the slots in the other wall (2) a horizontal bottom support wall joining the two vertical walls (B) an upper support layer containing a plurality of spaced parallel elongate support members in interengaging relation with the members of the lower support layer, and being at right angles therewith, said upper support layer comprising:

(1) first members having two vertical parallel walls with a plurality of slots in the lower edges thereof (2) a horizontal top support wall joining the two vertical walls,

(3) second members interposed between and parallel to said first members, said second members comprising: i

(a) an elongate hollow trussed rectangular unit presenting two inner and two outer upright vertical sections and one upper and two lower horizontal sections,

(b) a plunality of vertically depending rectangular tongues extending downwardly from the vertical sections of said trussed innit,

6 (c) a slot adjacent each side of each tongue extending into each outer vertical section,

(4) said tongues being contained within the vertical walls of said bottom support layer members and (C) the slots of said bottom support layer members and said upper support layer members being in interengagement.

8. A pallet according to claim 7 wherein each of the elongate members is constructed of corrugated fiberboard with the corrugations extending at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said member.

9. A pallet according to claim 7 wherein the interior height of the member of said bottom support layer is substantially equal to the interior height of said rectangular tongues whereby said tongues extend into abutting rel1ation with the interior surface of said bottom support wall and portions of the upper edges of said vertical walls engage the interior surface of said upper horizontal section.

10. A portable materials handling pallet adapted for use with a forklift truck, said pallet including at least two elongate interengaging members:

(A) one of said members comprising:

(1) two vertical walls with a plurality of slots in each Wall in the upper edge thereof (a) the slots in one wall being oriented in coincident relation to the slots in the other wall,

(2) a horizontal bottom support wall having an interior "and exterior surface joining the two vertical walls,

(B) the other of said members comprising:

(1) a hollow trussed rectangular unit presenting two inner land two outer upright vertical sec tions and three horizontal sections,

(2) at least one rectangular tongue depending downwardly from each outer vertical section (3) a slot adjacent each side of each tongue extending into each outer vertical section (C) said tongues being contained between the two vertical walls of said one member with the ends of said tongues abutting the interior surface of said bottom support wall,

(D) the slots adjacent each tongue being in interen- :gagement with slots in said upper edges.

11. A pallet according to claim 10 wherein each of the elongate members is constructed of corrugated fiberboard with the corrugations extending at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said member.

12. A kit for the construction of a portable materials handling pallet, said kit including:

(A) a first fiat fiberboard blank adapted to be folded into an elongate pallet member,

(1) said blank having two spaced scored lines to divide said blank into two side panel portions and a bottom panel portion (2) each side panel portion having slots in its edge extending parallel to said scored lines (B) a second fiat fiberboard blank adapated to be folded into an elongate pallet member,

( 1) said blank having six spaced scored lines to divide said blank into a top panel portion, two outer side panel portions, two bottom panel portions and two inner side panel portions,

(2) each outer side panel portion having slots for engagement with at least some of the slots in said first blank when both blanks are folded into members and interengaged,

(a) said slots in said second blank being spaced to form at least one rectangular tongue on each outer side panel portion which extends into said first member to abut said bottom panel of said first member when both blanks are folded into members and inter-engaged.

13. A kit for the construction of a portable materials handling pallet, said kit including:

(A) a first fiat fiberboard blank adapted to be folded into an elongate pallet member,

(1) said blank having two spaced scored lines to divide said blank into two side panel portions and a bottom panel portion (2) each side panel portion having slots in its edge extending parallel to said scored lines (B) a second flat rectangular fiberboard blank having slots in one of its long edges (C) a third flat fiberboard blank adapted to be folded into an elongate pallet member,

(1) said blank having six spaced scored lines to divide said blank into a top panel portion, two outer side panel portions, two bottom panel portions and two inner side panel portions,

(2) each outer side panel portion having slots for engagement with at least some of the slots in said first and second blanks when said first and third blanks are folded into members and assembled with said second blank (a)said slots in said third blank being spaced to form paired tongues on each outer side panel portion which extend into said first member, straddling said second blank and abutting said bottom panel of said first member when said first and third blanks are folded into members and interengaged with each other and said second blank. 14. A kit as called for in claim 12 containing: (A) a third flat fiberboard blank adapted to be folded into an elongate pallet member,

(1) said blank having two spaced scored lines to divide staid blank into two side panel portions and a top panel portion (2) each side panel portion having slots in its edge extending parallel to said scored lines for engagement with at least some of the slots in said first blank when all of said blanks are folded into members and interengaged.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS White Dec. 10, 

1. A PORTABLE MATERIALS HANDLING PALLET ADAPTED FOR USE WITH A FORK LIFT TRUCK COMPRISING: (A) A BOTTOM SUPPORT LAYER CONTAINING A PLURALITY OF SPACED PARALLEL ELONGATE SUPPORT MEMBERS, EACH OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBERS INCLUDING: (1) TWO VERTICAL WALL WITH A PLURALITY OF SLOTS CONTAINED THEREIN, (A) THE SLOTS IN ONE WALL BEING ORIENTED IN COINCIDENT RELATION TO THE SLOTS IN THE OTHER WALL (2) A HORIZONTAL BOTTOM SUPPORT WALL JOINING THE TWO VERTICAL WALLS (B) AN UPPER SUPPORT LAYER CONTAINING A PLURALITY OF SPACED PARALLEL SUPPORT MEMBERS IN INTERENGAGING RELATION WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE LOWER SUPPORT LAYER, AND BEING AT RIGHT ANGLES THEREWITH, AT LEAST SOME OF THE UPPER SUPPORT MEMBERS COMPRISING, (1) AN ELONGATE HOLLOW TRUSSED RECTANGULAR UNIT PRESENTING TWO INNER AND TWO OUTER UPRIGHT VERTICAL SECTIONS AND ONE UPPER AND TWO LOWER HORIZONTAL SECTIONS, 